Frontwards-looking: Under-brandish photographic camera tech remains a fairly recent and niche affair on phones, implemented mainly by Chinese manufacturers similar ZTE, Vivo, Oppo, and Realme. Information technology now looks like Xiaomi, another Chinese phone maker, wants to take the idea a step further by adding a rotating mechanism within the telephone that will enable its nether-brandish camera to be used for selfies or flip effectually to complete its triple-lens setup for rear-facing photography.

Phones such every bit the Asus Zenfone 7 Pro have previously explored the idea of using powerful rear-facing cameras that can be flipped around for taking selfies. While that implementation with its motorized swivel causes the phone to transform physically on the exterior, Xiaomi's idea involves all the action taking place internally.

Discovered by LetsGoDigital (Dutch), the patent for Xiaomi's under-display flip photographic camera discusses a module placed at the dorsum of the display having at least one lens that's gear up to face the rear by default. It will form function of a triple-photographic camera organisation and will exist able to rotate to the front end to human activity as a selfie camera using a magnetic or motorized module. The other 2 cameras, meanwhile, remain stock-still in their rear-facing position.

Getting this feature to actually work would bring the benefits of a pop-up selfie camera (no notch, dial-hole) like on the OnePlus 7 Pro, while also utilizing the more capable optics usually reserved for rear shooters as done past the same Zenfone 7 Pro. When being used for selfies, the phone'southward display around the photographic camera module will be turned off (like a temporary punch-hole) for letting in ambient light, with the remaining display surface area serving as a viewfinder.

Of course, this being a patent also means the idea might never run across the light of day. While Xiaomi isn't a stranger to experimenting with smartphone features and designs and has previously showcased diverse iterations of under-brandish cameras on prototypes, the company is all the same to release a mass-produced model that actually ships with this tech. Peradventure it's looking to brand a dramatic first impression with this implementation.